Every March, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) and their chartered state organizations work together with various businesses, schools,traumatic brain injury victims, and families to help raise awareness and promote a broader understanding of people with brain injuries in the US and the unique difficulties associated with life after such a profound and often debilitating injury.
The US Air Force reported on events being held all month by the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. Many of the events are centered around promoting the BIAA’s campaign, which states, “A concussion is a brain injury. Get the facts,” according to an article on the Air Force Web site. The Department of Defense guidelines define traumatic brain injury as “a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain,” the article noted.
In other news, University of Toledo professor and brain injury survivor Mark Sherry PhD has taken it upon himself to educate recue workers about how to better communicate with brain-injured accident victims. Brain injuries occur in a number of situations, including drunk driving accidents, speeding, and fighting. A WTOL 11 article noted that people with a brain injury are 3-4 times more likely to incur another one due to impaired brain activity. Sherry told WTOL, “People would be disinhibited. They might engage in risky behaviors. They might not have the preventative strategies that might come naturally to somebody else.”
The Mayor of Canton, Illinois recently signed a proclamation declaring March as Brain Injury Awareness month in the city of Canton. An article in the Canton Daily Ledger reported that the mayor made the declaration to “encourage the community to learn more about brain injuries and their prevention to help prevent brain injuries among their family and friends.” The article added that over 1.5 million Americans suffer brain injuries every year. 50,000 of those injury victims die and 80,000 more “experience the onset of long-term disability following traumatic brain injury,” the article continued.
A PR Newswire article quoted Deborah Crawley, Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of Washington, who said, “Coaches, parents and youth athletes need to know that a concussion is a brain injury. Medical evaluation by a licensed health care provider before returning to play following a concussion or even suspicion of a concussion is essential to the athlete’s short-term and long-term health Being aware of the signs, symptoms and local resources when responding to concussions is the best way to protect young athletes.” Many youth, collegiate, and professional sports authorities have made much-needed adjustments to their rules regarding athletes returning to play after a head injury.
St. Augustine, Florida residents Harold Lawrence and his brain-injured son, Joshua Brantner, will participate in a 460-mile walk from St. Augustine, FL to Charlotte, NC. They pair left for their journey last week. They hope to cover 20 miles each day with Lawrence walking behind Brantner, who rides on a custom-designed bicycle to accommodate the physical challenges of his brain injury. Brantner suffered a brain injury after a fall in September 2001 Doctors told his father that Brantner might never emerge from a coma, and if he did, that he would likely remain in a vegetative state. Now, 8 years later, Brantner spreads his message of awareness and prevention to youth all over America, according to an article on the St. Augustine website.
Finally, a group of high school students from Osawatomie High School in Kansas visited with the Heads Up brain injury support group on March 3, 2010 to share the knowledge they have been learning about the brain. The high schoolers spoke with their science club as a part of Brain Injury Awareness Month.
We congratulate and support the multitude of efforts taking place all month across the country to raise awareness and inspire action on many fronts to assist brain injury survivors and their families. Their efforts will go a long way toward preventing brain injuries and improving the lives of those injured in the past.
References:
Breaux, Ken. (March 2, 2010) “Brain Injury Awareness Month highlights facts about head trauma.” Retrieved on March 3, 2010 from the U.S. Air Force Web site:http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123192846
Canton Daily Ledger Staff. (March 1, 2010) “Brain Injury Awareness Month proclaimed.” Retrieved on March 5, 2010 from the Canton Daily Ledger web site:http://www.cantondailyledger.com/news/x285348413/Brain-Injury-Awareness-…
Justice For All Staff. (February 27, 2009) “March is Brain Injury Awareness Month.” Retrieved on March 5, 2010 from the Justice For All Web site:http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2009/02/march-is-brain-injury-a…
PR Newswire Staff. (March 1, 2010) “Brain Injury Association of Washington Provides National Leadership in Concussion and Safety Awareness.” Retrieved on March 5, 2010 from the PR Newswire Web site: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brain-injury-association-of-wash…
Trimble, Jesse. (March 3, 2010) “OHS Science Club Brings Brain Facts.” Retrieved on March 5, 2010 from the Osawatomie Graphic Web site: http://www.graphic-online.com/201003037769/news/osawatomie/ohs-science-c…
St. Augustine.com Staff. (February 25, 2010) “Residents participate in brain injury awareness walk.” Retrieved on March 5, 2010 from the St. Augustine Web site:http://staugustine.com/living/health/2010-02-25/residents-participate-br…
Voetsch, Melissa. (March 5, 2010) “Brain injury survivor offers tips to rescue crews.” Retreived on March 5, 2010 from the WTOL 11 Web site:http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=12092494